Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Capitol Hill: Only a few more days to open
A few more days people and they'll be open. Maybe Saturday, maybe Monday the gal outside told me the other day. A couple more permits, a few touches to the fabulous space and come next week--if all goes as planned--we'll be happily sipping our lattes as this new joint (our all-time favorite coffee shop in Portland), right next door to one of my favorite new spots to work, eat, drink and hang out any time of day or night, Café Presse.
Stumptown Coffee Roasters
1115 12th Avenue
(12th & Madison)
Seattle, WA
206.323.1544
*Edited to add: As of 7:54am Monday September 17th Stumptown hopes to open later this afternoon after the city gives them their final green light.
Stumptown has a great reputation so perhaps my expectations were too high, but I'm not all that taken with it. I've been a few times, both locations, and it's been up and down. Very good at its best, but I still would give the nod to Vita, Vivace or Victrola. I think the one on 12th, while very attractive, is strangely comfortable for a cafe. I haven't had any problems with the staff being rude or unfriendly, though.
Posted by: clive | Wednesday, November 21, 2007 at 12:31 PM
I am currently at Stumptown for the first time. First impression: fabulous space. Second impression: Where are all the tables? My hot chocolate is delightful, but the lighting is dim if you're planning to read or study. The bench style seating is a bit disconcerting, but the musical choice this evening (croony, loungy, jazzy, sinatra-esque stuff) is comforting.
Posted by: Hayley | Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 08:15 PM
Well, finally had a chance to stop in. Like previous posters, the service seemed a bit cold. Kinda like our weather lately...
As for the coffee, it was decent. I went for a simple latte to figure a baseline. It was probably a bit above average - about equal to Starbucks on a REALLY good day, but fell short of some of my favorites like Zeitgeist, Vivace, and Victrola.
I'll probably give them one more try, but surely didnt seem like anything to go out of your way for.
Posted by: Bill | Thursday, October 04, 2007 at 07:09 PM
Stumpted by Stumptown--go somewhere else for coffee/Internet/atmosphere.
Well, I wonder if our friends on BV will post a fairly unfavorable article on a local cafe. I've made my thoughts known on another blog, but I read this one enough that I wanted to convey such an unusual experience at a Seattle cafe/eatery.
Its September 29th and I just got back from an attempt to buy a con panna and bag of beans at Stumptown on 12th.
Although I love Vita and even Presse (next door), I was truly stumped at the surprisingly rude and "you should feel entitled to let me wait on you" attitude that prevailed. The cafe is ok, sure, and there is free Internet, which I guess is supposed to serve as a hook to get you in there so they can upsell you on their passable caffeinnated water and overpriced "goodies."
The bottom line is, if you are polite, white and/or male, you can expect a sneer/frown, a demand (over the blaring radio and numerous conversations) that you hide your phone before ordering, and lastly a confrontation that you can only avoid by simply walking out.
Which is what I did, and what I recommend. Next time you are up by Seattle U or finishing a good dinner at Presse/Lark, take a PASS ON Stumptown and go for a nice walk up the street for a drink or espresso some place else.
Anyone else have the same experience?
Posted by: Javaluver | Saturday, September 29, 2007 at 11:57 AM
Stopped by this morning...had the best Doppio in Seven years. This was very near to a god shot. No place else in town has touched it. And I get around to them all.
Posted by: nirvanashot | Thursday, September 27, 2007 at 11:18 AM
I was at Swedish today, so I stopped by for a coffee. It was very good and the staff were so polite :)
Thanks for the Heads-up !!
Posted by: | Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 02:15 PM
Stopped by yesterday and today. Americanos both days were quite good, but have to agree with a prior post that Victrola is still better. Cool interior but limited seating.
Posted by: Notkms | Sunday, September 23, 2007 at 03:12 PM
My daughter lives on Capitol Hill now, while going to UW and would like a job in a cafe. Maybe I should point her in this direction.
Posted by: Margaret | Saturday, September 22, 2007 at 09:11 PM
Tried an espresso. Over-roasted and bitter.
Victrola Coffee far superior
Posted by: Joseph | Saturday, September 22, 2007 at 05:26 PM
I went on opening day and they were awesome--cool Eames chesspiece chairs, mellow and smooth but strong espresso, and pastries from Macrina and Mighty-O...how could you go wrong?
Posted by: Cakespy | Thursday, September 20, 2007 at 09:25 PM
We just went and had such a nice time! Great new addition to 12th.
Posted by: Ali | Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at 11:05 AM
ooh! looks so cool! I will have to check it out!
Posted by: britt-sparkled vintage charm | Thursday, September 13, 2007 at 01:01 PM
Thanks for posting this. I work at SU and have been sneaking over regularly to check their progress, but hadn't seen anyone to ask.
Posted by: Maria | Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at 11:28 PM
I am *so* excited about this...every time I go to Portland I get all worked up over Stumptown, so it's incredibly exciting to have it coming so close to where I work!
Posted by: Cakespy | Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at 07:17 PM
Stumptown's Duane Sorenson was just featured in a NY Times article - To Burundi and Beyond for Coffee's Holy Grail
Posted by: Sean | Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at 03:08 PM
Wow, Portlandia in seattle?
Perhaps will check out, but then again, I have yet to make it to crazyberry or caffe presse. I am so lame.
Posted by: nazilam | Wednesday, September 12, 2007 at 01:57 PM